Austal completes CotaiJet deliveries

Austal has delivered the final four of fourteen high speed passenger ferries for Hong Kong's Venetian Marketing Services Limited (VMSL). All of the 47.5 m aluminum CotaiJets are now in operation between Hong Kong and Macao, servicing the entertainment, gaming, convention and hotel facilities on the Cotai Strip.

Combining speed, comfort and outstanding interior finishes, each vessel has the capacity to carry 413 passengers at a speed of 42 knots.

The Cotai Strip vessels represent the most extensive use to date of Austal's newly-introduced Advanced Shipbuilding (ASB) design and construction techniques.

Andrew Bellamy, Austal's Director, Global Sales and Marketing, says the shipbuilder's large facilities, skilled workforce and ongoing improvement in production techniques enables it to offer short delivery times, even for large projects.

"Increased modular construction and the automation of specific construction tasks across Austal's shipyards worldwide have seen significant improvements in our efficiency and productivity, as demonstrated by this project," Mr. Bellamy said.

"Austal prides itself on meeting or exceeding customer requirements and we are very pleased to be able to facilitate the on-time delivery of these vessels," he said.

The fourteen CotaiJets are each powered by four MTU 16V4000 M70s producing 2,320 kW at 2,000 rpm and driving four Kamewa 63 SII waterjets. Transom mounted SeaState Interceptors providing active high speed ride control for maximum passenger comfort. The latest four vessels also have forward mounted T-foils and aft mounted, T-Max, an auxiliary steering system proprietary to Austal.

The provision of a regular fast ferry service has contributed to the popularity of the Venetian Macao entertainment complex, which recorded a 7.1 percent increase in visits during the second quarter compared to last year's second quarter.